Racking

[bilbo-in-maine]

Here is a really nuts-and-bolts topic. I've done a few rackings now since
starting out about a month ago. The awkwardness of my inexperience is
most obvious in my racking technique. I imagine there are many on the
forum who can share tips and techniques they've developed on just how
they manage this potentially messy procedure.

Have you found that a bucket or bottle clip to hold the tubing in place is
an essential? Do you use a longer piece of vinyl tubing than what George
provides with his starter kits, which is about 4 feet? Then there is the
issue of getting a siphon started and maintained...grrr

I have an auto-
siphon but it is too large for the one gallon jugs I have my scratch fruit
wines in. Also, just how close do people get to the lees before they stop
transfering? With the red wines, it is pretty tough to see the top of the
bed, but I'm naturally inclined

to want to remove as much as
possible.

I know that, as with everything in life, experience is essential, but
pointers and advice from others usually is a great help. Thanks.
Bill

 

[Vaughn]

I've struggles with much of the same thing. With the gallon jugs, I use a smaller tube than what George gave me in the starter kit. It's easier to get a siphon going with it. I also got a clamp that easily shuts off or slows down the flow when I want it to (no mess, and great for bottling).


To get as muchout aspossible, I tilt thejug a bit while it sits. Then, come down to thatlower corner with the tube. Holding the end close to the side of the jug, I can see how deep it is, even in the blueberry wine. I always get somelees when I rack, but Irack several times before bottling to make sure it is clear.


The clip will be my next purchase. I usually employee my wife to hold the tube in the lower jug while I devote all my attention to the upper jug. I need a backup, just in case she goes on strike.

 

[rgecaprock]

Racking was a little awkward at first but have it down pretty good now. I don't have an autosiphon (yet) so just using the old fashioned method of sucking on the tube althought that could contribute contamination but hasn't yet. I do tip the carboyto try to get the last drop closest to the lees. My dad has a trick that I haven't tried yet. He rubberbands a small dowel stick to the end of the caneand adjusts it an inch or so below the bottom of the cane so you will know when you are touching the bottom of the carboy and not getting into the lees. I think just alot of practice and time will make it alot easier and less messy.


Ramona

 

[Hippie]

I always use my bucket with a spigot on it for transferring to secondary vessel. I use an autosiphon for racking carboy to carboy. I bottle from the carboy. With the few gallon batches I have made, I just tip up and pour through my big funnel with a screen in it. From gallon jug to gallon jug, I do the same, pour through my big funnel and screen. Don't worry about trasferring too much lees. Do the best job you can and you will eventually have clear wine.

 

[Waldo]

I use Hippies method with my gallon jugs. Just pour it through the filter on the funnel. So far it has worked great

 

[bilbo-in-maine]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. I spent the entire afternoon
today racking a kit red wine and 5 gallon jugs of some fruit wines, with
the usual mishaps and messes.

Vaughn - your suggestion to use a smaller tube is a good one. The clamp
sounds helpful. Can you describe it and where you got it?

Ramona - the dowel trick is something I thought of vaguely in concept, so
thanks for explaining it in more detail. A rubber band connection is easy.

Hippie and Waldo - the funnel you use must have a very fine screen in it
to effectively stop the fines and would make for slow pouring I imagine. I
will take a look at what George has in the catalog. It sounds like a smart
way to transfer without much cost.

Thanks everyone again! Experience will pay off eventually.

 

[MedPretzel]

This is the one I swear by


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4858





It makes life a whole heck of a lot easier.

I even use it to bottle, because my gravity filler and I don't get along too well.

 

[Hippie]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. I spent the entire afternoon
today racking a kit red wine and 5 gallon jugs of some fruit wines, with
the usual mishaps and messes.

Vaughn - your suggestion to use a smaller tube is a good one. The clamp
sounds helpful. Can you describe it and where you got it?

Ramona - the dowel trick is something I thought of vaguely in concept, so
thanks for explaining it in more detail. A rubber band connection is easy.

Hippie and Waldo - the funnel you use must have a very fine screen in it
to effectively stop the fines and would make for slow pouring I imagine. I
will take a look at what George has in the catalog. It sounds like a smart
way to transfer without much cost.

Thanks everyone again! Experience will pay off eventually.

Yes, the screen is pretty fine, might even have to stop now and then and rinse it off from the backside, reinstall, pour slowly. If you tip the jug and pour slowly, you can catch alot of lees and sediment before it gets poured out, or if the screen isn't already clogged, pour the rest on it and catch what gets through next time. No sweat.


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDet.asp?PartNumber=4709Edited by: Hippie

 

[Hippie]

George, please explain the differece if you can between these 2 products. Specifically the difference in screens. I have the 4709.


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDet.asp?PartNumber=4709


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDet.asp?PartNumber=4708Edited by: Hippie

 

[MedPretzel]

I don't see it.

 

[bilbo-in-maine]

This is the one I swear by

http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4858?</font>

Martina - Is this object a clamp to squeeze the tube shut or to just clip the
hose to something? George offers no explanation. Also assume there is one
for 1/2" tubing. Thanks for the tip.
Bill

 

[Waldo]

Bilbo...that one is to stop the flow of your wine with. The one for helping keep your hose in place is the http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4880

 

[bilbo-in-maine]

Gotcha Waldo, and I appreciate the input

 

[geocorn]

Sorry, I have been away for a couple of days. Wife's 50th b-day and we when to Shreveport. Would you believe that the Horseshoe Hotel does NOT have internet access?


First, for small batches, the 3/8" racking cane, tubing with the bucket clip and clamp work the best for me. Here are the links:


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4870


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4852


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4880


http://www.finevinewines.com/ProdDetA.asp?PartNumber=4858


I do have trouble with siphoning, so sometimes the "Hippie" method works best. Just take it slow to disturb the lees as little as possible.


The difference between the two filters, referred to by Hippie is that one looks like a transmission funnel. All of the funnels I sell have the same screen. The only difference is the size of the funnel.

 

[Hippie]

Ok George, thanks.

 

[jobe05]

Hippie:


I have seen these funnels and thought the screen was to small for what I would use it for, however I never thought about pouring 1 gallon batches through it. If the screen plugs easily, would it help if you balled up cheese cloth, put it in the funnel, then poured through the cheese cloth? Thought would be there would be more surface area to capture lees, allowing a faster tranfer? Dunno.......

 

[masta]

Only way you know is to try it. I use the small spoon to scrape the solids off to the side of the screen to keep the flow going and it seems to work well.

 

[peterCooper]

george also has a carboy cap which allows you to insert the racking cane
in the center hole, effectively
holding it in place and a second airhole to allow air in during racking. I
run the racking cane down the hole with it bent toward me so that the tip
of the cane is visible at the front of the carboy. This lets me judge where
it is. I run it down to about 2/3 inch above the lees then slowly let it go
back to the center.

The tip of the cane describes an arc as it goes toward the center leaving it
about 1/2 inch above the lees.

I rack from there. Actually I have a basting dropper that I use to draw
the wine through the tubing, closing off with a clip at the other end, until
I have enough wine in the tube to start the siphon.I don't have to suck
on the tube that way so everything stays sanitary.

Having racked, I bottle what I have, which is clear, and then mess around
with whatever is left in the original carboy. If I get more wine out, all well
and good. Mostly though I mess it up and that last half inch goes into a
bottle, lees and all, and I label it muddy bottom wine, which I then use as
top up for another similar batch.

Either George or Masta said something one time about not worrying too
much about the dregs at the bottom because there is always some loss. I
agree up to a point. If I can get more out, without compromising the bulk
of it, I will.

Edited by: peterCooper

 

[NorthernWinos]

Here is a little item that I have not found anywhere else.....sorry FineVineWines...check it out.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID =4675
It is a carboy cap with two holes and tubes, one for the racking cane and one that you blow into the carboy to start the siphon [don't know if we should be blowing into our carboys, but we do it] It works every time. Now if I could get my hubby to drill an extra hole into a rubber bung that fits a gallon jug, cut down a racking cane, stick part of the cane into the newly drilled hole, you would have a homemade siphon cap for a gallon jug...why aren't they selling something like that????

 

[NorthernWinos]

Here is a photo of the handy little gadget, now if it only came in gallon size....but we can all make those....right????